Octoberfest Interests!!!!!

[Bruce R. Schaefer]

I must admit Im as excited as I could get. This has been a fun project. It will have Data aquisiton and on board Video as well as being a large motor with 50 lbs of rocket that should get about 13k at roughly Mach speed. I just wish it was like tomorow… LOL

Conway, that sounds so cool! What day do you plan to launch: Friday, Saturday, or Sunday? I wanted to get my L3 ready for Oktoberfest, but it won’t be. Plus I want to fly it on an L first, which I’ll do first chance I get next spring at the North site. You’re using an N, right?

[Conway StevensParticipant]

I planned to do on Saturday. that way I can spend all day Sunday LCO and RSO and stuff. And also on Saturday help my daughter who just turned 14 with her JR L1 cert flight on her 3″ BSD Thor. Yes it is an N. I ordered the load and the case from Jim Amos just last week. I decided on the Biggets White wolf load there is to date with the N2020WT. Should be a fantastic boost. My origanal intent being somewhat of the altitude junkie i am as well was to do a N4000BB but after reading that the Cert team must see the whole flight I toned it down some. The N4000BB simmed to right at 21K in altitude and the N2020WT is around 13K. Either way should be fun. I will save the N4000BB for next may for MHM.

[Anonymous]

So Gang How about what everyone is pushing to get done and fly for Octoberfest!!! (

I’m looking forward to Oktoberfest, with the caveat that I drew an antelope tag this year (after nine attempts) so I will be gone Saturday. The good news is that I will be antelope hunting near the launch site 🙂 so if I can make quick work of things, I’ll be out there Saturday before noon. We’ll see.

Anyway, Oktoberfest– I plan to fly my RATT M on a minimum diameter, and if we haven’t flown by then, perhaps SSS and SSSS. Maybe (maybe!) my K altitude attempt as well. Stay tuned—

[denverdoc]

My plans are up in the air for OF. If i get the L3 ticket this w/e, some serious propellant brewing in my immediate future for an N-M shot to 30k+ at Balls. (I turned 50 this year and while I couldn’t shoot my age in kilofeet, want to make sure at 60 I can). That means I need only to go up 7.5 percent a year like a good investment to double in 10. Not that my plans are exactly the same.
40K in 2007, 60 in 2008. 100K by 2010.

Assuming I get the rocket back at the Playa. i’ll load it with as much commercial propellant as I can afford–probably M-L, but would like to burn more than 20KN-s.
John S

PS: If you can help pack propellant for the Balls shot let me know, APCP is an epoxy so have a pot life to contend with when packing the grains, any helpers will get rewarded for there efforts. Guessing it will take 4 sessions.

[Ken PlattnerParticipant]

denverdoc, I’m game. I’m only a few minutes from Broomfield. I’ve never packed propellant but I’d love to learn how. Ya never know. I may be doing it some day…

No reward necessary. It’s the experience that matters.

KenP.

BTW – my plans for OF is an L2 attempt. Was going to try it at Hartsel this weekend, but I’m really not ready. Rather err on the side of caution than push the envelope right now. I just finished a 4″ x 6.5′ scratch build DD rocket I’ll be flight testing. If all goes well, it’ll fly on a J on October.

KenP.

[Chris LaPanse]

If I’m free on that day, and I can do anything to help, I’m game.

Looks like my SSS shot may be pushed back to oktoberfest, as the fireban continues…

[denverdoc]

Thanks for the offer, the work is the flip side of the coin–commmercial propellant costs something like 70/#=1000N/s vs 10 or 15/# for same DIY. So A commercal J reload may cost 75 bucks, a home brewed alernative 15 bucks. Course if it blows up or fizzles on the pad, no one to blame, but for me, building the entire rocket including motor, gets me jazzed way beyond a kit and commersh reload.
J

[Conway StevensParticipant]

My plans are up in the air for OF. If i get the L3 ticket this w/e, some serious propellant brewing in my immediate future for an N-M shot to 30k+ at Balls. (I turned 50 this year and while I couldn’t shoot my age in kilofeet, want to make sure at 60 I can). That means I need only to go up 7.5 percent a year like a good investment to double in 10. Not that my plans are exactly the same.
40K in 2007, 60 in 2008. 100K by 2010.

Assuming I get the rocket back at the Playa. i’ll load it with as much commercial propellant as I can afford–probably M-L, but would like to burn more than 20KN-s.
John S

PS: If you can help pack propellant for the Balls shot let me know, APCP is an epoxy so have a pot life to contend with when packing the grains, any helpers will get rewarded for there efforts. Guessing it will take 4 sessions.

Hmm doing staging of that level is pretty stout work. I would consider myself a pretty accomplished flyer at high speeds(mach 2+ under the belt) and would maybe think a long time about trying something this complex. Let alone just getting Big motors and small rockets to work the way they should. Trying to go anywhere near 20K is a amazing feat (I myself have been an altitude junkie as well greatly competeing with JW and the likes) Where do you plan on trying to work the bugs out. Also who is building the propellant/motor and what formula are you using? Just curious as well as interested.

[Bruce R. Schaefer]

Careful, Conway, asking someone their formula is like asking a rock hound where he or she finds their rocks. 😯 Proprietary info. Most people won’t give them out for safety reasons as well. Generically, they have a metal powder (NOT magnesium), an iron oxide catalyst, a certain type of rubber-based binder, an epoxy curing agent, and, of course, ammonium perchlorate. The best way to learn and learn HOW to use formulas is to visit and help out at a APCP mixing party. They’re mentioned occasionally on this site.

[Conway StevensParticipant]

Actually I have been into EX/research for sometime.(this is actually my second round with NCR as a member as well as CERG. I took a break from rocketry for about 3 years so im one of the past members) Infact when NCR was first founded i was on the Exec commitie and my First roll was(with NCR anyhow cause I was exec with PHITS as well) as the First EX/Research Chairman. Ive played with and mixed some plenty. Been involved with An and AP formulations. Its all pretty simple as I understand and know what they are fortunatly. Not really any real trade secrets anymore with all that stuff to much amongst fellow research peeps. Really the whole reson why the naming has changed from experimental to Research anyhow cause we arent truely EX cause we for the most part used pre formulated fuels Like Wimpy red or Polish Roho or Super Polish Roho just to name a few. I was curious as to what the name for the formula was and the actual deveolper. Like the polish stuff was done By Pat G. Anyhow was just curious as to how tried and tested the particular formula was. But just a Lil backround on me and my curiosity on his formula. John if you dont wish to publicly tell me shoot me a PM.

[Author]

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